Matchmaker (Empire High #4) - Ivy Smoak Page 0,116

the area involving telling the truth. Why does she keep saying she accidentally opened the door? You can’t accidentally do that.”

“Did you accidentally shove your tongue down this horrid woman’s throat?” Penny said as she stormed into the foyer. She lifted up a tabloid with a picture of Poppy and me kissing before hitting me with it. “She’s a Pruitt!”

I grabbed the tabloid out of her hand. “Technically she’s a Cannavaro…”

“Are you kidding me, Matt? You know what that family’s capable of. She just threatened my daughter and you’re making out with her?”

This was a funny misunderstanding. Maybe that’s why I couldn’t seem to wipe the smile off my face. Or maybe it was because I hadn’t stopped smiling since I asked Kennedy out. “I can see how that looks but…”

Tanner started laughing.

“And you,” Penny said turning to him. “Of all people, you should be upset about this too, Tanner.”

“Why me exactly?” Tanner asked. “I’ve never actually met the woman.” He lifted the tabloid from my hand. “She’s rather attractive, albeit apparently insane.”

Penny looked back and forth between us. “I don’t know what the hell is going on. Or why you both look so happy. But Matt, I am so done with whatever mind games you’re playing. Sending me on a wild goose chase trying to set you up with people when the whole time you were…I honestly have no idea what you’re doing. But you can’t come into my house if you’re seeing that woman.”

“Penny,” James said as he joined us in the foyer. “I can handle this.”

“I’m serious, Matt,” Penny said, ignoring James. “She’ll never step foot in here. I don’t trust anyone from that family. And if you do, you’re completely insane.”

“Penny,” James said more sternly.

I’d never heard him talk to Penny like that. His short temper was usually reserved for…well, me. And I understood why what she said upset him. He was worried that I’d be offended that Penny had said that family. Because of Brooklyn. But honestly? I was just happy tonight. And the Pruitts did suck balls.

“Good luck,” Penny said to James. “He’s clearly lost his mind. Poppy Cannavaro. What is it with you men and evil brunettes from crime families?” She left the foyer as quickly as she had come in.

“Still a little touchy about what happened with Isabella, I see?” Tanner said. “It’s best to let things go, I always say.”

“Tanner, if you’ll excuse us, I need to have a word with Matt in private,” James said.

Every word that left his mouth made him look more and more agitated. I’d been on the other side of one of his fists before. And I didn’t feel like icing a black eye tonight. Kennedy would have too many questions about that.

“It’s fine,” I said. “Anything you want to say to me you can say in front of Tanner.”

Tanner nodded.

“Whatever you want,” James said. “Both of you come this way then.” He turned around and started walking toward his study.

Tanner looked at me.

I shrugged and we both followed him.

The lights were off in James’ study, and as soon as we stepped in, the door was slammed and locked behind us. Then the lights turned on.

James, Rob, and Mason were all sitting in a semi-circle staring at me.

“Um, what’s up, guys?” I asked. They were all looking up at me awkwardly. It felt like I’d just walked in on something really weird. “I thought guys’ night was tomorrow?” Actually, this was good. I could apologize to all of them at once. Wonderful.

“For fuck’s sake,” Rob said. “Who invited Tanner to the intervention?”

“Intervention?” I asked. I stared at them staring at me. Oh. I should have expected this. I’d been a fucking mess recently. But not tonight. Not now. So I just did the only thing I could do and laughed.

“Why are you laughing?” Rob asked. “This is serious.”

I tried to wipe the smile off my face to no avail. At least now I knew why James looked so serious. “And what exactly is this intervention for?”

“You being…sad,” Mason said. He was staring at the smile on my face that I couldn’t get rid of.

I shrugged. “Right, that. I’m good. Actually, I’m great. I appreciated you guys worrying about me, but I’m seriously doing a lot better.” I would have told them about Kennedy. But I wanted it to be a surprise when I brought her to guys’ night tomorrow. It was a silly idea for our first date. It would make her smile though. And that’s